Dar es Salaam. Vice President, Philip Isdor Mpango, has said there is need for Africa, particularly the regions south of the Sahara, to develop effective strategies for utilising existing resources such as oil and natural gas in a way that promotes economic and social prosperity for its citizens.
Dr Mpango made these remarks on March 5, 2025, during the official opening of the East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (EAPCE’25) in Dar es Salaam, which will run for three days.
He noted that energy consumption in Africa remains relatively low compared to other continents, such as America, Asia, and Europe.
“In this era, where the development of sustainable energy plays a significant role in the future of our environment, economy and societies, and at a time when the world is grappling with the challenges of climate change, we still need to harness our available resources, including oil and natural gas, without endangering the future of upcoming generations to meet our energy needs,” said Dr Mpango.
The Vice President pointed out that East Africa is richly endowed with energy resources, including oil and natural gas.
Tanzania has discovered natural gas, while Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan have discovered oil reserves.
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are rich in methane gas.
Again Kenya and Tanzania are home to geothermal energy resources.
Dr Mpango said that these resources must be utilised to bridge the energy gap and accelerate development in the region.
Climate change
“We recognise that the world faces the challenge of climate change. Tanzania, like other nations, is committed to reducing carbon emissions to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. However, we must strike a balance between economic growth and the sustainability of our energy sources by addressing today’s challenges while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow,” he said.
Dr Mpango also spoke about the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, acknowledging that this shift is essential to reducing environmental pollution worldwide.
However, he noted that such investments require substantial capital and expertise.
Clean energy goals
Africa is estimated to need between $1 trillion and $2 trillion to meet clean energy goals by 2030.
Therefore, fostering a conducive investment environment and strengthening public-private sector collaboration are vital.
“While we tackle today’s challenges, we must prepare for the challenges of tomorrow by balancing economic growth with the sustainability of our energy sources,” Dr Mpango added.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Doto Biteko, told conference participants that as the economy grows rapidly, the demand for energy, particularly natural gas, continues to rise.
He said government is actively working to develop upstream petroleum projects to discover and expand new oil and gas resources.
“I commend President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for her efforts in advancing upstream petroleum projects. Under her leadership, gas production has improved in the Songosongo and Mnazi Bay fields, which are crucial to the gas economy,” said Dr Biteko.
Dr Biteko mentioned some successes in the oil and gas sector, including the development of natural gas in the Ntorya field within the Ruvuma block, with a development licence awarded to ARA Petroleum. Additionally, Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has increased its stake in the Mnazi Bay block from 20 percent to 40 percent.
The Ugandan minister for Energy, Ruth Nankwabira Seitamo, discussed the importance of revenue from the oil and gas sector benefiting other sectors.
She cited Uganda’s creation of a Petroleum Fund, which supports various sectors, including roads, education, and healthcare, ensuring that the benefits from the sector are widely distributed.
She said oil and gas sector has a role in advancing clean cooking energy solutions, which would reduce deforestation.
She commended President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, for her leadership in promoting clean cooking energy worldwide.
The secretary general of the East African Community (EAC), Veronica Nduva, congratulated Tanzania for successfully hosting the EAPCE’25 conference.
She said it aligns with the EAC’s goals of ensuring the sustainable development of oil and gas resources while prioritising environmental conservation.
